Take-Home Essay Questions for International Relations

Fall 2009

General Instructions:  You will select a ONE essays to write a 4-6 double-spaced typed pages per essay.  The essay is due Monday 5 October at class time - hard copy format (please do NOT send as email attachments).  Unless you have extenuating circumstances – and unless these extenuating circumstances have been approved by Dr. Rogers - you will write your essay long-hand in class on Monday 5 October.

An A or a B essay includes all of the following:

1. Well-written, well-organized cogently argued formal essays for most assignments: Imagine that you are submitting a formal essay for an English class and engaging in a stream of consciousness exercise. Depending on the question you address, this might be a persuasive essay or a compare and contrast essay. This means that they should be well-written and logically organized.
2. A Solid Grasp of the Different Theories. Your evaluation of the different theories is your evaluation. But I want you to understand/grasp the theories. If you do not have a solid understanding of the theories – this will seriously impact your grade.
3. Intellectual Honesty and Critical Thinking: In category B – and in a different fashion in Category A – the questions are intentionally structured as controversial questions. At the outset - let me stress as strongly as I can - there are no politically correct answers.  There is absolutely no relationship between the political position you take and the grade you get.  My goal is NOT to make you think like me but to get you to think critically about your own beliefs and positions.  What your grade is based on is the extent to which you are aware of BOTH sides of the debate - in particular the strongest arguments against your own thesis.  If you do not address these counter-arguments (explicitly or implicitly) in your essay you will greatly damage your chances for a good grade. 
4. Evidence of High Quality Independent Research - Including Citations to Both Sides of Issue: The third characteristic of a good essay is evidence (through citations) of high quality independent research.  You should cite any website you use that is embedded in course lecture.  But, for many essays, you will want to find high quality websites (remember, not everything on the internet is factual and not everything is high quality) beyond those included in the lecture.  Of particular importance is to find at least one website that takes a point of view contrary to what you will argue in your essay.  You will want to include the URL as part of your citation so that I can check out the quality of the websites myself. I would strongly recommend looking for scholarly articles on the topic (I will provide a hand-out later on this).
5. Originality/Creative Thinking: Often, the primary difference between an A and a B essay is the extent to which you go beyond the lecture notes, class readings, and class discussion to come up with your own original analysis. There is a wide range of ways to be original. At the most basic level, put concepts in your own words. But beyond this, identify conceptualizations, ideas, and critiques that were not discussed in lectures, readings, or class discussions.

1:  Describe your own theory of own normative international relations and explain how your theory is similar to, and different from, the realist, liberal, and at least one other theory.  Your theory should include both your empirical view of the ontological nature of the world (how things really do operate) and your own values OR

2: Select either Realist or Liberal Theory or any ONE of the other theories (Marxism, Difference Feminist Theory, Apocalyptic or Social Constructivist Theory).  Describe the theory in your own terms and evaluate its strengths and weaknesses OR

3: Compare and Contrast (discuss similarities and differences) between any two International Relations and critique these theories.  Be sure to discuss both similarities and differences and in your critique be sure to discuss strengths and weaknesses of both theories OR

4: Select any classical or contemporary book on theoretical International Relations.  Summarize and critique the book.  (Notes: the book must be approved in advance by Dr. Rogers & it can not be a book you submit for your extra credit reading) OR

5: A profound difference between Realist Theory, Liberal Theory, Marxist Theory on one side and Social Constructivist Theories and theorists like Huntington and the “Clash Constructivists” on the other concerns the extent to which human behavior is universal because human nature is universal or is a product of particular social environments, cultures, and religions.  What aspects of human behavior are universal and rooted in human nature and universal human needs? What aspects of human behavior are culturally defined?

6: Differentiate the views on anarchy held by Hobbessian Realists, Neo-Liberal Institutionalists, and Constructivists.   Make an argument as to which position is correct OR

7: Differentiate and evaluate the validity of the realist, neo-liberal institutionalists, liberal pacifists, difference-feminist, & Marxist views on how to produce peace. Be sure to use “evidence” to support your argument and be sure to respond to the strongest arguments against your position OR

8: Differentiate and evaluate the realist, liberal, and Marxist views on globalization.  Be sure to use “evidence” to support your argument and be sure to respond to the strongest arguments against your position OR

9: Differentiate and evaluate the realist, liberal, difference feminist, and Marxist views on international organizations such as the UN and WTO.  Be sure to use “evidence” to support your argument and be sure to respond to the strongest arguments against your position OR

10. Describe the theory of Just War and evaluate its utility.  Be sure to use “evidence” to support your argument and be sure to respond to the strongest arguments against your position OR

11. Describe the logic of the Kantian Democratic Peace thesis and discuss its empirical validity and the implications of your evaluation for US Foreign policy. Be sure to use “evidence” to support your argument and be sure to respond to the strongest arguments against your position OR

12. Summarize and Critique Huntington's Theory of the Clash of Civilizations OR

13. Are there universal human rights? If so what are they? What is the basis for defining these rights? OR

14. Discuss the impact of global climate change and ecological scarcity, global crime and/or global pandemics on world politics.

15. Describe classic MAD deterrence theory and discuss the extent to which it might be possible to apply stable MAD to either the current situation with Pakistan and India or a potential situation between Israel and Iran (once Iran acquires nuclear weapons).

16. What is your analysis of the causes of Al Qaeda’s (and ideological affiliates) war against the US and the West? What are your recommendations for combating this threat?